What Would Jesus Do?

What Would Jesus Do is a series of newspaper articles written by members of the Spring Warrior church of Christ in Perry, Florida and published by the church in the Perry News-Herald beginning on May 10, 2006, and ending on November 29, 2006.

Each article can be read by clicking a link to its title below:

1. What would Jesus Do?
2. Jesus Would Give Bible Answers for Religious Questions (Authority)
3. Jesus Would Study the Bible
4. Jesus Would Have Us Obey the Apostles' Commands and Examples (Authority)
5. Jesus Would Attend Church
6. Jesus Would Pray
7. Jesus Would Humble Himself
8. Jesus Would Obey God in All Things
9. Jesus Would Follow the Golden Rule
10. Jesus Would Neither Use Profane Language, Nor Say Mean, Hurtful Things
11. Jesus Would Not Covet Money & Material Possessions
12. Jesus Would Not Believe That the Majority Was Right
13. Which Traditions Would Jesus Observe? (Authority)
14. Kingdom Come
15. Permit It to Be So to Fulfill All Righteousness (baptism)
16. Jesus Would Not Call Preachers "Reverend," or "Father"
17. Jesus Would Visit The Sick
18. Jesus Would Give to the Poor
19. Jesus Would Honor His Parents
20. Jesus Would Weep With Those Who Weep
21. Jesus Would Not Divorce A Spouse For Any Reason Other Than Fornication
22. Jesus Would Put God & Others First Through Selfless Love
23. Jesus Would Judge Righteously
24. Sin No More (Repentance, Unscriptural Marriages & Homosexuality)
25. What Would Jesus Do About Sinning Brethren? (Discipline)
26. Cleanse the Temple (of Modern & Liberal forms of Worship & Outreach)
27. Jesus Would Evangelize
    

See also Spring Warrior's previous articles under the series entitled, "Prove All Things."

Jesus WWJD? What Would Jesus Do? Spring Warrior
Christian Christianity Church of Christ Church of Christ

When "gospel" referred to Caesar as savior

Before Christ was born, people in the Roman world associated the word gospel with news about Augustus Caesar, the "divine" caesar, who was also known as "savior of the world" because the peace he initiated and maintained through force submission following war and violence. Then, around A.D. 27 or so, disciples and apostles of Christ begin proclaiming the good news of a new Savior (deliverer, liberator) who will also bring peace.

Attached hereto in HTML, Adobe PDF, and PowerPoint PPT formats is a sermon I prepared on what First Century Roman citizens would have heard when someone said "gospel," "savior," "peace," etc.

The outline contains:

1. Comparisons of Mark 1:1 and Luke 2:8-11 with a Calendar inscription from Priene dating 9 B.C., which says: "the birthday of the god [Augustus] was for the world the beginning of tidings of joy ...;"
2. Minor exposition of Matt. 22:15-22 with a picture of a denarius (from Bible Picture Gallery) bearing the likeness of Tiberius Caesar and an inscription declaring that Tiberius was the "son of god;"
3. Comparisons of John 4:42 and 1 John 4:14-15 with titles declaring Julius and Augustus Caesar as "saviors;"
4. Minor exposition of Acts 16:21 and Acts 17:6-7 showing persecution of Christians for proclaiming the Gospel in a Roman world.

The sermon borrows heavily from the work of David McClister who presented a lecture entitled, "The Gospel In Its Roman Context," at Florida College in February 2005. Bro. McClister's outline and PowerPoint presentation are available for free in PDF format at his web site. You can purchase an audio CD of the lecture from the Florida College Bookstore (813)985-9555.

Some of the material is also borrowed from others hearing bro. McClisterÂ?s sermon, namely: Brent Kercheville (and perhaps others) at the Haverhill Road Church of Christ in West Palm Beach, Florida, who adapted the bro. McClister's lecture into the following two sermon outlines:

1. Grasping the Gospel: The Gospel of Peace; and
2. Jesus: Savior and Son of God

Acts 16:21 Acts 17:6-17 Augustus Caesar Bible History denarius Gospel John 4:42 1 John 4:14-15 Julius Caesar Luke 2:8-11 Matt. 22:15-22 Mark 1:1 Peace Persecution Priene Roman Emperors Rome Savior Son of God Tiberius Caesar Christian Christianity Church of Christ Church of Christ

45 Messianic Prophecies Fulfilled in Jesus Christ

The following links are to tables identifying Messianic Prophecies and New Testament scriptures demonstrating how Jesus Christ fulfilled these prophecies. The table is available in HTML and PDF format, and is based upon information found in Bible Maps and Charts (part of Nelson's Pocket Reference Series), and a 1982 edition of Nelson's Open Bible (NKJV).

The Bible Maps and Charts is useful, but I wish it was in a larger and thinner version. The Pocket Reference Series is too compact for my tastes.

I really liked several features of the Open Bible, especially the Biblical Cyclopedic Index (which was in addition to the normal concordance) and the tables, though I did not like the commentary.

Books Handouts for Class Jesus Prophecy
Christian Christianity Church of Christ Church of Christ

Cyrus, King of Persia [Handout]

I prepared the following handout to supplement our class' study of Judah's return from the Babylonian captivity. We are using Joe Corley's Bible Basics curriculum.

Cyrus in the Bible [See Cyrus II of Persia at Answers.com]
1. 2 Chronicles 36:22-23 - [The Proclamation of Cyrus] Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying, Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: All the kingdoms of the earth the LORD God of heaven has given me. And He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah. Who is among you of all His people? May the LORD his God be with him, and let him go up!
2. Ezra 1:1-2 - [ End of the Babylonian Captivity ] Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying, Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: All the kingdoms of the earth the LORD God of heaven has given me. And He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah.
3. Ezra 1:7-8 - King Cyrus also brought out the articles of the house of the LORD, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken from Jerusalem and put in the temple of his gods; and Cyrus king of Persia brought them out by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and counted them out to Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah.
4. Ezra 3:7 - They also gave money to the masons and the carpenters, and food, drink, and oil to the people of Sidon and Tyre to bring cedar logs from Lebanon to the sea, to Joppa, according to the permission which they had from Cyrus king of Persia.
5. Ezra 4:3 - But Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the rest of the heads of the fathersÂ? houses of Israel said to them, Â?You may do nothing with us to build a house for our God; but we alone will build to the LORD God of Israel, as King Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us.Â?
6. Ezra 4:5 - and hired counselors against them to frustrate their purpose all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.
7. Ezra 5:13-14 - However, in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, King Cyrus issued a decree to build this house of God. Also, the gold and silver articles of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple that was in Jerusalem and carried into the temple of BabylonÂ?those King Cyrus took from the temple of Babylon, and they were given to one named Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor.
8. Ezra 5:17 - Now therefore, if it seems good to the king, let a search be made in the kingÂ?s treasure house, which is there in Babylon, whether it is so that a decree was issued by King Cyrus to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send us his pleasure concerning this matter.
9. Ezra 6:3 - In the first year of King Cyrus, King Cyrus issued a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem: Â?Let the house be rebuilt, the place where they offered sacrifices; and let the foundations of it be firmly laid, its height sixty cubits and its width sixty cubits,
10. Ezra 6:14 - So the elders of the Jews built, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they built and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the command of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.

[Isaiah Prophesied About Cyrus by Name 150 Years Before Cyrus Was Born]

11. Isaiah 44:28 - Who says of Cyrus, Â?He is My shepherd, And he shall perform all My pleasure, Saying to Jerusalem, Â?You shall be built,Â? And to the temple, Â?Your foundation shall be laid.Â?Â?
12. Isaiah 45:1 - [ Cyrus, GodÂ?s Instrument ] Â?Thus says the LORD to His anointed,To Cyrus, whose right hand I have heldÂ? To subdue nations before him And loose the armor of kings, To open before him the double doors, So that the gates will not be shut:
13. Daniel 1:21 - Thus Daniel continued until the first year of King Cyrus.
14. Daniel 6:28 - So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
15. Daniel 10:1 - [ Vision of the Glorious Man ] In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a message was revealed to Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar. The message was true, but the appointed time was long; and he understood the message, and had understanding of the vision.

Christian Christianity Church of Christ Church of Christ

How to contact Joe Corley to order Bible Basics

Over the years, I have fielded a number of requests for Joe Corley's contact information so people may purchase his Bible Basics workbook series. His contact information is as follows:

Joe Corley
Joe Corley Books
116 Armory Drive
Lewisburg,TN 37091
(931) 359-3451

Christian Christianity Church of Christ Church of Christ

Chronological Table of the Patriarchs, From Adam to Moses, 2500 Years

I own a copy of Smith's Bible Dictionary, which you can purchase from Amazon.com for $9.95. Besides being a Bible dictionary, it also contains chronologies and charts like the one below.

Book Reviews Handouts for Class

2 Peter 3:13 – New Heavens and New Earth

Wayne Jackson has an interesting article worth reading at christiancourier.com:

2 Peter 3:13 – New Heavens and New Earth

What is the meaning of the expression “new heavens and a new earth” as found in 2 Peter 3:13?

For a link to a sermon outline by Mark Copeland on the same topic can be found at this earlier post.

2 Peter Eschatology New Heavens and New Earth Prophecy Church of Christ Church of Christ